rockwell moody

[MIKE MACALUSO]

September 12, 2005
St. Joe's land Rock solid commitment
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Justin Young
RivalsHoops.com Recruiting Analyst

St. Joe's has always been a March Madness staple for the last decade and with the recruiting class Phil Martelli and his staff have lined up in 2006, they might be a team that makes some noise deep into the tournament. The Hawks added Rockwell Moody, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound center from Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Va., to their stellar class on Monday.


Rivals.com

Rockwell Moody is headed to St. Joe's.
After officially visiting the Atlantic 10 program, Moody verbally committed to the Hawks.

"I really got along with the players there. It wasn't like I was an outsider coming in," Moody said. "The first day I got there, we really connected. It wasn't like things were scripted the way coach Martelli wanted it. The players were telling me all of the good things and all of the bad things. They were real with me throughout it all. I saw their work ethic and the way they did things that is just the way I am."

Moody is the fourth player to commit to St. Joe's in 2006. Joining him are guards Jawan Carter, Derrick Rivera and Darren Govens. All four were on campus this weekend.

"Coach Martelli had them all come in this weekend to meet me which was really cool," Moody said. "We all got along great. We had a chance to play together and they're all really good. You know they really breed basketball players in Philly. They have no problem playing together. We all joked and got along really well."

Moody is a big, active and athletic big man that shines on the defensive side of the ball. He'll be a key member for the Hawks inside the paint, especially with the tremendous guard play coming in with him in the class of 2006. Moody said he feels like Martelli has a specific role for him when he gets there.

"He's really sincere. After (assistant) Mike Rice made that first initial phone call to me, coach Martelli took over and was front and center," Moody said. "It's always nice to know that the head coach wants you. That's a big thing with me. I want to be able to have that open relationship with the coaches. He said he wants to have me be a guy that really holds down the paint."

Just three hours away from home, Moody said St. Joe's also allows him the opportunity to have his 15-year-old brother Lavar at his games.

"That was a big thing for me," Moody said. "I want to take care of my brother. I want to have him come up to my games and see me and I want to be able to get back home to see him. I feel like I can get that at St. Joe's."